CSUN Athletics Partners with Penn’s Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education to Examine Student-Athlete Experiences and Success

Sep 17, 2013

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Cal State Northridge
and the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Study of
Race and Equity in Education have joined forces to participate in
an important education project to determine student success for
women and students of color who participate in athletics at
CSUN.

Historically, African American and Latino student-athletes have
been underrepresented in higher education, and women in
intercollegiate athletics. The project, which will be conducted at
CSUN, will focus on the student-athlete experience in three main
areas. They include campus engagement, athletics, and academic
success.

This project is aligned with the CSUN Athletics
Department’s “Comprehensive Excellence” agenda,
according to Dr. Brandon Martin, CSUN’s
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.

“Our most important pursuit is the academic success of
CSUN’s student-athletes,” said Dr.
Martin. “Gaining in-depth insights into the
experiences of student-athletes who represent diverse backgrounds
is consistent with the athletics department and the
University’s commitment to student success. It is indeed an
honor and a privilege to partner with my colleagues at Penn and Dr.
Frank Harris III on this significant project.”

Dr. Shaun R. Harper, founder and director of
the Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education at the
Penn Graduate School of Education, will oversee a research team
that will participate in each step of the study. Dr. Harper is a
national authority on race and equity in education and recently
completed a comprehensive 50-state policy report on access and
equity for Black undergraduate men at public colleges and
universities for the Congressional Black Caucus.

“CSUN Athletics is pursuing important insights into the
experiences of student-athletes who enhance the University’s
diversity,” said Dr. Harper.

Dr. Harper and his research team will spearhead the project with
Dr. Harris, an Associate Professor of Postsecondary Education at
San Diego State University.

Dr. Harris, along with two researchers from the
Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education, will be among
the leaders on gathering data on this project.

“I commend Dr. Martin and his colleagues for their
commitment to ensuring that women, Latino and African American
student-athletes at CSUN have rewarding and well-rounded
undergraduate experiences,” said Dr. Harris.
“The insights that emerge from this project will not only
help to strengthen the student-athlete experience at CSUN but may
also result in a set of promising practices that can be
incorporated at other athletics programs across the
country.”

The project will gauge the experiences of women and male
students of color who participate in CSUN Athletics through focus
groups with student-athletes that volunteer. Based on the findings,
the research team will offer ways for CSUN administrators to
enhance student success and the quality of their undergraduate
experience. Finally, the group will analyze the extent to which
women have opportunities to thrive as student-athletes at CSUN.

“The implications for student success from this report
cannot be overstated,” remarked Dr.
ElizabethAdams, Associate Vice President
of Undergraduate Studies at CSUN. “Not only will it allow
CSUN to help our most academically vulnerable student-athletes to
succeed, it will also aid us in overall student success.
Ultimately, this study can have a profound impact on the success of
the CSUN athletic program and on the University as a
whole.”